Michigan

Ohio State Urban Meyer has a good idea what Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi has in store for his Buckeyes' offense, and he'll count on formations and an experienced offensive line to neutralize the Spartans' attack.
(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

EAST LANSING -- Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is 24-0 as the Buckeyes head coach and is closing in on history, as the Big Ten's longest win streak is 29 games set by the 1901-1903 Michigan football teams.

Meyer's focus this week is No. 10 Michigan State (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten), as the Spartans have the nation's No. 1 total defense and rush defense entering into Saturday's Big Ten championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Meyer was comfortable talking about the challenges presented by the Spartans' press-quarters scheme, which isolates cornerbacks one-on-one with receivers.

"It allows nine other players to defend the run and to contain the rest of the offense and thats gonna be our challenge because there's always a free hat somewhere,'' Meyer said on ESPN's SportsCenter. "You either have to throw it over the top of their head or be creative with formations, and the good thing is we have a big, powerful back (Carlos Hyde) and a good offensive line, and sometimes you have to run through tackles as well, especially against a defense like this.''

Meyer believes the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0) have the personnel to be effective against a Spartans defense that has recently gone soft, yielding 386 yards rushing over the past three games.

"Our offensive line has been excellent, protecting the quarterback and opening the holes for the running back,'' Meyer said. "This will be a challenge unlike any we've had this year. The good thing is we have four seniors on the offensive line, they played them last year, we didn't have a great day against them, but at least they have a taste of it.

"We have to take care of the ball, we have to be in plus-yardage plays. They are a defense built on getting you off schedule, and then they'll blitz your tail off on third down.''